Jean II Makoun loaned to Olympiakos

[Risso]

Silly move in my opinion.. Ok, we've got 4 points from the 1st 2 games but the football ''we try to create'' has been dire to watch.. He's one of few play makers we have.. I don't think he's been given a fair shot at all.. And as for the statement ''Makoun isn't in Mcleash's long term plans''.. I really hope thats the other way round..

I disagree with just about every word of that.

Me too.  Houllier didn't persevere with Makoun, and after a full pre-season, McLeish has neither started Makoun nor given him time as a sub.  Sometimes players just don't work out, and from what I've seen, Makoun's style of play just isn't suited to the Premier League.  Lots of big name players have come a cropper over here, it's no disgrace, but what you shouldn't do is persevere regardless.

[PaulTheVillan]

I would rather sell Makoun & Ireland ahead of Bannan.

[UsualSuspect]

We wont get Parker on a year long loan because that will be no good for West ham

Signing him for anything above 2 years wouldn't work because of his age

His wages are going to be high and there will be no resale value - just like the majority of players we sign.

I would rather us go with our young players or sign a player 25 ish who at least can give you several years service

I pretty much agree with you, other than the fact West ham did say he was available for a years loan earlier this summer.

John I think Wet Spam will try a sell him first failing that loan him but they will want a couple of million at least for a loan deal

[Concrete John]

And personally, I'd pay a couple of million to loan him for the season.

[john e]

Can't see for the life of me how a player who can keep the ball pass the ball, be creative with it, make good pieacing through balls, and will only get better,is not suited to playing in the prem

Some of you guys are still living on the 1970's and will only be happy when we go and sign someone like Lee Catermole

[LeeB]

Can't see for the life of me how a player who can keep the ball pass the ball, be creative with it, make good pieacing through balls, and will only get better,is not suited to playing in the prem

Some of you guys are still living on the 1970's and will only be happy when we go and sign someone like Lee Catermole

I'd tend to agree John, though the fact he's 28 means time isn't on his side to adapt.

[fredm]

Can't see for the life of me how a player who can keep the ball pass the ball, be creative with it, make good pieacing through balls, and will only get better,is not suited to playing in the prem

Some of you guys are still living on the 1970's and will only be happy when we go and sign someone like Lee Catermole

I'd tend to agree John, though the fact he's 28 means time isn't on his side to adapt.

The problem is the other players need to be on the same wavelength re moving and passing; making the ball do the work crisply with short passes.  I'm not sure we have enough who are that type of player to succeed at the moment.  Delph, Bannan, N'zogbia probably are but Gabby, Bent, Heskey, Collins, Dunne I would say are not.

[Toronto Villa]

Silly move in my opinion.. Ok, we've got 4 points from the 1st 2 games but the football ''we try to create'' has been dire to watch.. He's one of few play makers we have.. I don't think he's been given a fair shot at all.. And as for the statement ''Makoun isn't in Mcleash's long term plans''.. I really hope thats the other way round..

I disagree with just about every word of that.

Me too.  Houllier didn't persevere with Makoun, and after a full pre-season, McLeish has neither started Makoun nor given him time as a sub.  Sometimes players just don't work out, and from what I've seen, Makoun's style of play just isn't suited to the Premier League.  Lots of big name players have come a cropper over here, it's no disgrace, but what you shouldn't do is persevere regardless.

I really want Makoun to succeed. But we need answers today and if we don't have the luxury of hoping he adapts, then we might as well get in someone who can help immediately. I think Makoun is a terrific player with the right players around him, but that means buying the right players, something we're not going to do. Give me Scott Parker instead for 3 years while gthe likes of Bannan/Gardner/Delph/Hogg etc all come through and become established.

[SoccerHQ]

At the moment in time we have Makoun, Delph, Petrov, Bannan and Ireland as established options for central midfield (G.Gardner hasn't made the bench yet and I don't think Hogg is good enough so not counting either).

Given Stan will be knackered by Xmas and Delph will probably be suspended a couple of times our options could get pretty thin there so I'd keep Makoun and try to get another central midfielder in on loan.)

[john e]

in the brief playing time he's had he's looked good, he's not been off the pace if anything he's been to quick minded for the other players around him, why sink to the lowest common denominator, instead of saying he's to good for the rest say let the rest improve or become quicker in thought, if they can't, then slowly bring in players that can, which I believe was always GH philosophy anyway.

The thing we desperately need is a midfield more comfortable with the ball that doesn't lose posetion to easily, that's why we concede many late goals, because we panic , that's why players like Macoun are needed if we are to move forward and improve

[Chris Smith]

in the brief playing time he's had he's looked good, he's not been off the pace if anything he's been to quick minded for the other players around him, why sink to the lowest common denominator, instead of saying he's to good for the rest say let the rest improve or become quicker in thought, if they can't, then slowly bring in players that can, which I believe was always GH philosophy anyway.

The thing we desperately need is a midfield more comfortable with the ball that doesn't lose posetion to easily, that's why we concede many late goals, because we panic , that's why players like Macoun are needed if we are to move forward and improve

Which of our other central midfield options would you say isn't comfortable in possession?

In an ideal world we would keep him but if we need to move players on in order to trade then he would appear to be one who is expendable.

[UsualSuspect]

Makoun for me gets caught in possession far to often so his next tackle is a booking

I think he's okay and we have a lot of just okay players

[hilts_coolerking]

If, out of necessity, we're prepared to give Warnock and Ireland another chance surely it's worse persevering with Makoun too, unless we can get back the majority of what we paid for him.

[brontebilly]

Would like to see him given a chance but with McLeish scrabbling around for cash he is probably heading for the exit. Parker will be getting nervy about a move I reckon now. The kind of player McLeish is looking for but his wages will be a problem.

[Dante Lavelli]

A loan for Parker would be ideal for all parties I think as long as the numbers are reasonable, say 2m fee.  In addition I'd like to see one of our younger players go to West Ham on loan in return.  Hogg or Gardner would benefit from playing every week (although Big Sam would not be my preferred manager).